Meet Sarah Chatham | Boudoir & Empowerment Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Chatham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I discovered the healing power of photography first hand in 2006 when I was diagnosed with Non-hodgkins lymphoma at the age of 20. I was a sophmore studying studio art at the time and had to trade my last 2 months of school for PET scans, biopsies, surgeries, chemo, and radiation. I felt like my body wasn’t my own and I was craving an ounce of creativity. In an effort to reclaim my body from the barrage of medical treatments, I photographed myself in a series of self portraits after my chemo treatments. It was the only thing I knew to do at the time that would give me some semblance of control and power.

When I started my boudoir photography business just out of college in 2008, I wanted to take pretty pictures and help women to feel beautiful in their bodies – something that I struggled with immensely during my cancer treatments. In the last 16+ years, I’ve witnessed how powerful these photoshoots can be. It’s not just about pretty photos – it can be a life-altering experience, helping women to reclaim their bodies after trauma, see their bodies differently after a health journey, or simply find a little peace with a body that is ever-changing.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
What sets me apart from others is my unshakeable belief that photography has the power to heal and transform. I don’t do this work to create pretty pictures (when I was younger, I wanted to be a fashion photographer but quickly realized the love I have for working with everyday women. Fashion photography just wouldn’t do it for me). I love how my clients blossom in front of the camera, going from a ball of anxious nerves, to women who feel comfortable in their bodies, feeling proud of their bodies, even loving their bodies. Honestly, the women who walk through my door are not the same women who leave! I feel so much pride when I hear from a client that the experience has helped them to be more kind and compassionate to themselves, helped them to see their body differently, or given them confidence to do something that they didn’t believe they could attempt before.

Right now, I’m excited to step further into my creativity and see how it evolves to uplift more humans while fulfilling my artistic side. I’ve spent a lot of years focused on the business side of things and I’m looking forward to filling my creative tank and working on a few personal projects that have been on my heart for awhile!

I’ve gotten to this level of success through my love of what I do and my constant desire to learn. There have been times I have told myself “I can’t do that”… then I try… and I surprise myself! From learning different lighting techniques to doing my own bookkeeping, I’ve built my confidence by doing the things I didn’t think I was capable of. I’m re-training my brain to translate the “I can’t” self talk into a challenge to prove myself wrong!

I take a lot of pride in my problem solving skills and resourcefulness. I create images in a small space with a few different backdrops and props, if I don’t know how to do something, you can bet I’ll figure it out! When I’m faced with an obstacle, I refuse to give up. For sure, it hasn’t been easy, but my passion for my business overshadows the hard parts. I have my off days, but I truly can’t imagine doing anything else with my life. I’m open to that changing, but for now, this fuels me. It seems like whenever I question if I’m truly making a difference, the universe drops me a little hug – usually in the form of a message from a past client about how impactful their experience was, and that gets me back on track.

I want the world to know that I understand what it’s like to be at odds with my body, to feel like my body is not my own and is the enemy. AND I also know that my body is the only thing that I have from the day I was born until the day I die. That I deserve love and respect in a world that is hell-bent on convincing women that our bodies aren’t good enough, and industries that are profiting off of our body-hate. My work is rooted in the mission of women reclaiming their bodies, rejecting traditional beauty standards, and moving toward body acceptance and self love. When we learn to accept our bodies just as they are, we’re no longer held back by our appearance and we can go out to do important work in this world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We would do all the outdoor things! We’d kick the week off tailgating at Red Rocks before an Avett Brothers show (my favorite band to boogie to!). We’d get out of town by taking a day trip to the mountains for a lake hike and a pit stop at Westbound and Down for a post-hike porter. We’d see a musical or comedy show at the performing arts center and follow it up with sushi and a sakeitini at blue sushi. A brunch at Snooze with a pancake flight is a can’t-miss! Meow-wolf for an injection of creativity (and over-stimulation!) And a chill vibe day with a walk around Wash Park, coffees from Wash Perk in hand!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Oh wow… Just one person? My mom who has always been my biggest cheerleader and introduced me to my love for photography – she’s been an avid scrapbooker since I was a child and was always taking photos of me and my sister. By working her own side-hustle while I was growing up, she showed me that it was possible for me to do the same. She’s been part of my team at bridal shows, touting my business since 2008 (those are gruling days and she does it with a smile and so much pride for me!) I think she truly understood the importance of what I do when her best friend booked a photoshoot with me and my mom got a behind the scenes glimpse at how empowering the experience was.

Website: https://www.sarahchathamboudoir.com/

Instagram: sarahchathamboudoir

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/VIPBoudoirLoungebySarahChatham

Image Credits
Sarah Chatham